JIM STEPHENS FOREIGN CAR SERVICE

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They're pretty good.

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Perfectly.  He only replaced what was needed.  All the above was deemed needed by the STEALERSHIP,and yet, after the work was done above, ALL leaks on the driveway stopped.  Stephens foreign car is far and away the finest auto repair shop in the land.

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I trusted them to do a good job. So far everything is good.

How can I provide details other then if I had brought my Infiniti M into a dealer, as soon as I drove the car into the garage, the cost would be over $300.00 just because. Just because what? Who knows? I assume the dealer thinks because I drive a fairly expensive
car, I can afford anything. The dealer doesn't care that I purchased the car used and that I'm a retired educator. They just charge you. The dudes at Jim Stephen's are honest, caring and are experts about cars. I am a bit of an automobile enthusiast, (basically I read Car and Driver and Motor Trend) and the guys at Jim Stephen's know engines, models, vintages etc. They're like a sommelier, except for cars.

It was excellent. I've brought my beloved car to Dan for a few years now (since the BMW warranty had expired) and have had been nothing but pleased with the work the shop has done on the car. The shop has always completed repairs with absolutely no dealer up-sale attempts, no sign of lab coat dressed middlemen (like some dealers), and no disrespectful attitudes. They provide honest opinions on repairs and diagnosis - for example, giving you all the options on OEM vs aftermarket parts and accurate repair quotes - provide great work and go beyond what is needed to keep your car on the road.
The most recent trip was for a strange device in the intake manifold called a DISA valve - one of those few things on my car that, the owner manual doesn't tell you about, but can cause considerable damage when it disintegrates and gets sucked into your engine. Dan had noticed the strange noise of the valve starting to go bad while doing an oil change on the car a few days earlier. Since I had never heard of this strange part, I did some research on my own and found that when the part fails it can bend engine valves and melt plastic parts into your pistons. Needless to say, I thought I knew my car very well, but Dan likely saved me thousands of dollars especially with road-trip season is approaching. I've still got the old DISA valve on the shelf here.
I'll stick with Jim Stephens. I recommend them to every foreign car owner I know (honda, bmw, volvo, audi, mercedes, etc).

More than a fair deal for a problem that was no one's fault.

He is the best, most honest Volvo service provider in southern Ohio.

Another repair shop told me I needed about $1000 worth of struts. I called Jim Stephens to get a quote and when I described the symtoms he said new tires would probably solve my problem and struts might be unneeded. That turned out to be the case. Jim Stephens does not sell tires and made no money on this deal, but saved me $1000. I can't say enough about his honesty and professionalism and I will be taking my car there in the future!

The day I was scheduled to bring it in they had a lot of last minute emergency cars come in, so there was a small delay in getting it done. They seem to always be very busy. They work on all foreign cars, but i think it's especially good for VOLVOS. The owner has one and likes them a lot. They had been recommended by a stranger in a store who overheard me asking someone else for a good auto repair place that won't take advantage of a single woman who knows nothing about cars. She said they've always been very fair.

I cannot overstate how highly I regard this business. I would be a cusotmer for life had i not moved out of the area for work. I expected it to be over-priced due to the downtown location and the fact that it appeared to work only on "foreign" cars. (which it does not, incidentally). As noted above, the price was less then elsewhere and in one case free. Have you ever heard of a free car repair from someone other than a friend/family member? They could have told me i needed $1000 of work when i came in with the screeching, and I would have paid it. But he charged nothing, even after i offered to pay! As i said, the owner is a really nice guy. All three times i went, he was there working. He clearly loves working on cars and not ripping people off.

Recently my car wouldn't start. I had to towed to Dan, and it not only started, he couldn't find anything wrong with it. He called a Saab mechanic friend in another state to see if he had any ideas. Dan kept the car for several days, finally calling me to pick it up. The next time, the same story, until Dan couldn't get the car to start and diagnosed a faulty ignition. He charged a fair price and it has worked perfectly ever since.

On several recommendations and after my unsatisfactory service at another shop, I took my 1986 Volvo to Jim Stephens Foreign Car. Dan (who I believe worked for and took over the business after Mr. Stephens' passing) is extremely knowledgeable in Volvos (old and new) and has always been able to find the problem and fix it the first time. I believe Dan works with only one or two other mechanics and always can fit me in within the week. His hourly labor charge is reasonable and he has consistently given nearly exact estimates. Most important (to me) has been his direct candor and communication and his ability to predict my future automotive needs (not a common trait with other shops). From fuses to transmission issues, I have had nothing but excellent service provided by these guys. I really cannot express how satisfied I have been with the work at Stephens and recommend them to everyone who needs foreign car (especially Volvo) service.